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inspections@johnstonnc.govWhere to Get Building Permits by Town
In Johnston County, North Carolina, the majority of municipalities do not have their own building inspections departments. Instead, they rely on the Johnston County Building Inspections Department to issue building permits and conduct building code inspections.
The towns in Johnston County that do not handle their own building permits include:
- Archer Lodge
- Benson
- Kenly
- Micro
- Pine Level
- Princeton
- Selma
- Smithfield
- Wilson's Mills
How the process works in these towns:
Even though these towns do not issue the final building permits, you cannot go straight to the county to start a project. You must first go to the respective town's Planning/Zoning Department to obtain a local Zoning/Land Use Permit. Once the town verifies that your project meets local zoning rules, setbacks, and unified development codes, you take that approval to Johnston County Building Inspections (located in Smithfield) to obtain the actual building permit.
The Exceptions
There are two municipalities in the county that do issue their own building permits and handle their own construction inspections for properties located inside their town limits:
- Clayton: Has its own dedicated Town of Clayton Inspections Department.
(Note: Properties with a Clayton mailing address that sit in unincorporated Johnston County outside the town boundary still go through the county). - Four Oaks: The Town of Four Oaks issues its own building permits and municipal services for its residents.
